"Danzo. I am the Hokage."
This sentence exploded in the office like a thunderclap.
Danzo's body visibly stiffened. He stared intensely at Sarutobi Hiruzen. The air in the office seemed to freeze, thick with tension.
After several seconds of suffocating confrontation, the muscles on Danzo's face twitched.
He knew that no matter what, he could not take Sora away today.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had asserted the absolute authority of the Hokage.
"Fine... Hiruzen."
"You cling to your naive ideals."
Danzo turned around and walked step by step towards the door.
At the doorway, he paused, leaving behind a cold, prophetic statement.
"You will regret this, Hiruzen."
After saying that, he left the Hokage office without looking back, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked in the direction Danzo had vanished, slowly sat back down in his chair, furrowed his brow, and took a deep puff from his pipe.
'Danzo... I hope you do not force me to make an even more difficult choice.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly, his gaze becoming profound.
At this moment, he was at his peak. Even if Danzo were to seriously contend over this matter, he had full confidence he could firmly control the situation.
...
On the streets of Konoha's commercial district.
Sora and Kurenai were choosing a place to eat dinner.
This was Kurenai's gift for Sora achieving first place in the assessment, treating him to a meal.
Originally, Kurenai planned to take Sora to her home to eat, but her mother was home today. Whenever Sora had visited her house before, her mother often teased the two of them, making Kurenai blush every time.
Therefore, Sora decided to freeload off this little rich girl Kurenai's wallet outside.
It had been almost two years since Sora arrived in Konoha, and this was the first time he was eating a meal outside the orphanage. After all, the orphanage's funds were limited. His monthly living expenses were just enough for meals.
Furthermore, due to the enhancement from the Azure Dragon Fruit and his intermittent training of the Eight Gates, Sora's appetite had grown larger and larger. One meal for him could equal ten portions for others.
This forced Sora to occasionally go to some forests in Konoha to hunt game for extra meals, just like Naruto when he was young.
"Well, Sora, what should we eat?"
Kurenai, clutching her small wallet, stood on tiptoe looking at the shops along the street, her tone full of anticipation.
They had been wandering for a while. Sora kept worrying that eating too much would put her in a difficult position, so he hadn't decided yet.
Suddenly, a few raindrops hit the top of his head.
Sora looked up. A light rain had begun to fall over Konoha, with a tendency to get heavier.
Sora quickly pulled Kurenai under the nearest eaves. Warm yellow light spilled from the shop, along with the aroma of bone broth.
'Ichiraku Ramen?'
It turned out Sora and Kurenai had taken shelter right at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen.
"The rain doesn't seem like it will stop soon. Why don't we eat here?" Sora pointed at the shop sign. Having been in Konoha for so long, he realized he had never actually eaten at Ichiraku Ramen.
Kurenai's eyes lit up. "Okay! I've heard Ichiraku's ramen is super delicious!"
As soon as the two stepped to the entrance, a warm, enthusiastic greeting came from inside.
"Welcome! Please come in, you two guests. It's cold outside in the rain!"
Teuchi, at this time, looked to be in his twenties, quite young, bustling about the shop alone.
As for his daughter Ayame, Sora remembered she was about five years older than Naruto. It was currently October, year 38 of Konoha. She would likely be born in about three years.
They entered the shop and sat down. Kurenai called out directly, "Boss, two bowls of tonkotsu ramen! Sora, do you want extra noodles? I have a lot of pocket money, you know!"
Sora didn't stand on ceremony. "Extra noodles, please. Thank you, boss."
Soon, two steaming bowls of ramen were served.
Sora's bowl was piled with noodles like a small mountain. The side effects from opening the Eight Gates during his match against Hikaru had long since recovered, but the cost was that he was almost starved to death.
Sora hurriedly slurped down the noodles, drinking even the soup cleanly.
"Another bowl, boss!"
Kurenai was full after eating less than half a bowl. Propping her chin in her hand, she watched Sora eat, her smiling eyes curved like crescent moons.
Outside, the rain continued to patter down. Inside the shop, it was warm and cozy. The aroma of bone broth mingled with the sound of rain, exceptionally comfortable.
While waiting for Teuchi to bring the next bowl, Sora looked towards the corner by the shop's entrance and suddenly thought of Naruto as a child.
Also on a rainy day, Naruto stood alone at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen, soaked by the rain, without money to come in and eat a bowl. In the end, Teuchi took pity on Naruto and let him come in for a free bowl of ramen.
'Hokage...?'
Sora took the ramen handed to him by Teuchi, but his mind drifted to Sarutobi Hiruzen, whom he had just met, and then to the phrase 'become Hokage' that Naruto would always have on his lips later on.
He shook his head, casting that impossible thought out of his mind.
He was different from Naruto. Although Naruto, like Sora in his childhood, was not well-regarded, his identity was that of a native of Konoha Village. He had the qualification to become Hokage.
Sora was different. He was an orphan who came from another village. Becoming Hokage was absolutely impossible!
Just like at the Ninja Academy, there were always some children who harbored ill will towards him. Ultimately, it was because Sora was an orphan from another village.
During this period, many Konoha ninja had died at the hands of ninja from other villages. These children didn't care whether Sora was from the village that killed their family or friends. They directed their hatred towards orphans from other villages like Sora.
This was also one of the reasons Miyamoto Ichirō from the orphanage was unwilling to stay at the Ninja Academy.
Fortunately, Sora possessed an adult's soul. He didn't mind the harsh words from those children.
However, the position of 'Hokage' was something Sora's future children might have the qualification for.
Thinking this, Sora turned his head to look at Kurenai, who was quietly watching him beside him.
Seeing Sora suddenly turn and stare at her intently, Kurenai blushed and said, "Sora, why are you looking at me?"
"Oh, oh, nothing. I just think you're very beautiful, Kurenai."
Hearing Sora's words, Kurenai's little face "flushed" an even deeper red, like a ripe apple, almost matching Hinata later when she saw Naruto.
She quickly lowered her head, unconsciously stirring the remaining noodles in her bowl with her chopsticks, her heart beating wildly.
'Sora... he said I'm beautiful...'
Kurenai's heart felt like it was holding a little rabbit, thumping wildly. Although her mother often teased her and Sora, this was the first time Sora had said it so directly.
She felt her face burning hot, but there was also a sweet feeling in her heart.
After speaking, Sora was also taken aback. Seeing Kurenai's shy appearance, he realized he had inadvertently spoken his mind aloud.
He had just been lost in thought. Seeing the quiet, lovely girl beside him, a feeling of admiration had arisen.
Feeling a bit awkward internally, Sora quickly coughed and changed the subject. "That... I mean, this ramen is really delicious! Thank you for treating me, Kurenai."
"Mhm... mhm! I'm glad you like it!" Kurenai also took the offered way out, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, but she couldn't help stealing a glance at Sora.
Although embarrassed, Sora was, at his core, an adult soul. How could embarrassment compare to actual hunger? He turned his full attention to the ramen. In the end, he ate a full ten bowls before finally filling his stomach.
'I really wonder what Hinata's stomach is made of?'
Remembering the later Ichiraku Ramen eating contests and Hinata's record of over forty bowls, Sora couldn't help muttering to himself.
After finishing the ramen, the rain outside had also gradually lessened, turning into a light drizzle.
"Boss, the check, please." Kurenai took out her cute little wallet and paid very generously.
Teuchi watched this pair of adorable young customers and sent them off with a smile.
Stepping out of the ramen shop, the air carried the freshness after rain. The sky had already darkened, and streetlights on both sides of the road lit up one after another.
"I'll walk you home, Kurenai," Sora said naturally.
Although Konoha Village was relatively safe, he still wasn't comfortable letting a girl not yet seven years old walk home alone at night.
"Okay," Kurenai nodded, feeling a little happy inside.
Along the way, Kurenai chattered about the events of today's assessment. Sora listened quietly most of the time, occasionally nodding or giving simple responses.
Looking at the lively girl beside him, Sora found his thoughts drifting to Asuma again...